Interest from Galatasaray & Inter Milan
Following a notable error by Altay Bayindir that caused Manchester United to lose their Premier League opener against Arsenal last weekend, the goalkeeper situation at United is back in the spotlight. Bayindir was chosen over André Onana by manager Ruben Amorim, casting doubt on the future of the former Inter Milan goalkeeper, who has struggled with mistakes over two challenging seasons at Old Trafford. Amorim’s lack of confidence in Onana is apparent.
Although United has indicated they do not plan to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, reports have varied. Fabrizio Romano noted on Friday that United is pursuing a deal for Senne Lammens, with personal terms reportedly agreed. According to Transfermarkt, credible sources from Belgium have revealed that United has been scouting the Royal Antwerp goalkeeper since last September. Lammens is relatively unknown in England, so we’ve gathered a comprehensive overview of this promising goalkeeper, enriched with expert insights from Belgium.
Insights from Belgium on Senne Lammens
Lammens climbed through the youth system at Club Brugge but made only four professional appearances for the team. The 23-year-old transferred to Royal Antwerp on a free transfer two years ago. Bart Tamsyn, Transfermarkt’s Area Manager for Belgium and a former Brugge scout, provides insight into this decision.
Tamsyn remarked, “At Brugge, Lammens was widely regarded as a top goalkeeping prospect, potentially the best not honed in the KRC Genk academy. However, he faced competition from Simon Mignolet. Consequently, he chose not to renew his contract and moved to Antwerp in the summer of 2023. Initially serving as Jean Butez’s backup, he became the starting goalkeeper last season.”
Senne Lammens: Strengths and Areas for Growth
Lammens is seen in Belgium as a potential long-term successor for Thibaut Courtois in the national setup. His underlying performance metrics reveal significant potential, backed by a solid skill set, though he still has areas to refine. Tamsyn states, “Lammens has a remarkably strong mentality and maintains composure in all situations. He demonstrated last season that he possesses genuine goalkeeping talent, as he recorded the highest number of saves in the Jupiler Pro League. Additionally, he is a goalkeeper who actively seeks out footballing solutions and is adept with both feet.”
Regarding areas for improvement, Tamsyn added, “To reach the elite level, he needs to enhance his accuracy. He tends to make mistakes in each match, often due to a lack of experience in specific situations. While these mistakes tend to be minor—like a poor kick—they can occasionally result in conceding goals due to misplaced passes or misjudgments. However, having just completed his first season as a starting goalkeeper, he certainly has ample room to grow.”
Antwerp’s Stance on Senne Lammens’ Transfer
Currently, Lammens’ market value is estimated at €9 million on Transfermarkt, having increased by €7.5 million last season owing to his outstanding performances. However, United will likely have to exceed this valuation to secure his services this summer, as Antwerp’s asking price reportedly stands at approximately €20 million. This figure aligns with the club’s record sale following Arthur Vermeeren’s departure to Atletico Madrid in January 2024.
Furthermore, only three goalkeepers have transferred from Belgium for fees over €10 million, which puts Antwerp in a strong negotiating position, especially with clubs such as Inter Milan strongly interested in Lammens, alongside significant interest from Galatasaray. It is also believed that other European teams may enter the fray for Lammens this summer, further strengthening Antwerp’s bargaining position.
